The Light of One Night

Part Eight
T.V. Times

AUTHOR'S NOTES: For detailed notes and disclaimers, see part one.


The company of dancers were going through their paces for what seemed like the thousandth time that morning - and it was still only early. By this time, they were used to it. One didn't spend a year working on a Broadway show without learning to do the same moves to the same music over and over again. Today however, the choreographer showed an unexpected amount of mercy to them.

"OK, good people," she called out. "You can take a break for the moment." She shot a glance at Leroy who was already making his way to the room backstage, where the television set was kept. "I know some of you - one of you in particular - has an appointment to keep." There was a knowing smile on her face as she said it, which was reflected in some of the other faces in the company.

A gang of them followed Leroy backstage and joined him in front of the television. He already had the channel set, and his choice caused consternation from one of the newer members of the cast. "C'mon man, Regis and Kathie Lee? We have to watch them?" More knowing smiles were exchanged among the cast, who weren't sure if Alex really disliked the show, or if it was because Leroy had chosen the channel that he was reacting like that. Alex had taken an instant dislike to Leroy the moment that he met him, and while Leroy wasn't reacting to it in any way, the verbal jousting that went on, certainly on Alex's part, was a cause of great entertainment to the other dancers.

"Yes, we do," Leroy said calmly, as the show came back from commercial. "Now, shut up."

Alex's eyebrows raised as he realised that this was the most stinging thing Leroy had ever said to him - although friends of Leroy would have told him he was getting off lightly. Curious as to what was getting Leroy so worked up, he listened to Regis' introduction.

"And now, we have one of the most exciting actresses in daytime with us, and we're really excited about her. She graduated from the prestigious High School of the Performing Arts just a year ago, and already she has a contract signed with Guiding Light where she plays Irene. Please welcome Nicole Chapman!"

The audience applauded and Alex turned to Leroy. "You have got to be kidding me." Leroy's attention never wavered from the screen, but he did make a shushing noise to the other man.

On the screen, Nicole was sitting down across from the hosts, and Regis was turning on the charm. "Now, I believe you were only contracted to play a bit-part at first?"

"That's right," Nicole nodded. "Originally, I was supposed to be there for three weeks, as a catalyst, in one of the main storylines. But I guess they liked what they saw, and saw possibilities with the character, so I was asked to stay."

"And you jumped at the chance, right?" Regis continued.

"Well, who wouldn't?" Nicole asked. "The show has such a great history, and everyone's so friendly, so professional, I couldn't ask for anything more. I feel very lucky to in the position that I'm in right now."

"Look at Little Miss Sweetness," Alex remarked snidely, earning him bored looks from most of the cast, but again, no reaction from Leroy.

"And you do all your own singing?" Kathie Lee asked.

There were laughs from the assembled cast, but if Nicole thought it was a silly question, she didn't let on. "Yes, it's all my own voice," she confirmed. "Most of it is pre-recorded at a studio downtown, but there are times when I have to sing a phrase, or a verse of a song, and I do it live. But it's all me."

"Is it true that you write some of your own songs as well?"

Nicole nodded. "I've written for years, and when I was first contracted, they said that they were looking for a certain song that my character would sing, so that two others could realise their feelings for each other. They had a song, but the director on the day wasn't happy with it. So I suggested that I had a song of a similar mood, played it for them...."

"And they loved it?" Regis asked.

"Yeah, we were a bit rushed for time, so I ended up doing an acoustic session on the stage." Nicole smiled at the memory. "It was supposed to be this big orchestral arrangement and ended up being just me and a guitar! But the fans loved it, and I think that was a big factor in me getting a longer contract."

"Wonderful," Regis smiled.

Kathie Lee leaned forward in her chair, preparing to ask a question. In the studio, Nicole saw the look on her face and an uneasy tingle ran down her spine. "Now I understand there's someone special at home who loves to watch you on tv?" When Nicole didn't respond immediately, she continued. "It is correct, isn't it, that you have a daughter - that you got pregnant at sixteen?"

In the theatre, there was a chorus of "oohs" and Leroy visibly winced. Alex simply raised his eyebrows. This was an unexpected development.

In the studio, Nicole smiled thinly. "That's right," she said calmly. "Sarah is almost eighteen months old now."

If she thought that would get her off the hook, she was mistaken. "And you weren't married to her father?" Kathie Lee continued.

Nicole shifted slightly in her seat, and Leroy unconciously mimicked her, wishing he could be there. Woman or not, he could have dearly loved the chance to wipe the condescending look from Kathie Lee's face. "It's complicated," Nicole began. "Without going into all the details, quite simply because it's not anyone's business, her father and I were together, then we broke up. I moved away to have her - he didn't even know she existed until she was eight months old. My choice, not his."

"And why was that?" Regis asked the question this time, sympathy written all over his face.

Nicole paused, and sighed. "I guess I thought it was bad enough that one of us was going through this - I didn't want to ruin his life...." She shrugged. "It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"You regret it now?" Regis again.

Nicole nodded. "I moved back to New York, and he found out, of course. And he got to know her, we spent a lot of time together, and eventually, we got back together. We all live together downtown....we're a happy little family." A smile came over her face as she finished her story.

"That's wonderful," Regis said sincerely as the audience applauded.

Back in the theatre, smiles were exchanged as Leroy continued to stare at the tv, looking proudly at Nicole.

In the studio however, Kathie Lee was still leaning forward in her chair. "And how would you respond to some calls that as a single teenage mother, you're a bad example to young girls? That they might follow your example?"

In the theatre, another chorus of boos went up, and Nicole gave the woman a look of purest ice. Keeping her voice level was an effort, but she held her head high as she replied. "I don't think I am a bad role model," she said. "For starters, if anyone ever asked me whether or not I think it's a good idea for young girls to be mothers, I'd say no. I would never have chosen to have Sarah as young as I did. But once I was in that situation, I had to make the best of it. And I love my daughter, very much. Also, I have very loving, very supportive parents, who backed me all the way. I went to school throughout my pregnancy, and after she was born, keeping a 4.0 Grade Point Average, and I graduated right on time, with my class. And now, I have a job that I love, and I'm living with the man I love, the father of my child. I'm incredibly lucky and I know it. But at the same time, I worked hard to keep my life together, and not give up my dreams. Your life doesn't have to be over if you're a teenage mother. That's what I think people should look at, rather than the fact that I had a baby at sixteen."

The audience, both in the theatre and in the studio, erupted in applause. When it subsided, Regis picked up the questioning. "That's a very good point," he conceded. "And it can't have been easy."

Nicole shook her head. "No. And if you'd told me two years ago that I'd be where I am today, I would have said you were crazy. But you can't plan life. I learned that the hard way."

"Well, I understand you're going to sing for us?" Regis began to wrap up the interview.

"Yes, it's one that I wrote a long time ago," Nicole responded. "Called Come What May."

"Lovely. Ladies and gentlemen," Regis stood up as Nicole made her way to a makeshift stage. "Nicole Chapman!"

The audience applauded as Nicole began to sing. "Wish I was your child/ Hold me in your heart / We could love so free / We'd never have to part...."

In the theatre, the volume was lowered on the television set as Leroy finally turned around and looked at his castmates. "She's something else," one of the girls observed admiringly.

"Ain't she though?" Leroy was as proud of her as he'd ever been, and he didn't care who knew it.

"Do me a favour Leroy?" The voice came from across the room.

"What's that Henry?" Leroy smiled at Henry Lee, reflecting once more on the irony that someone he'd once thrown out of the School of the Arts was now dancing alongside him on Broadway.

Henry smiled. "Remind me never to get in a fight with your lady!"

That brought laughter from the cast, all except Alex, who was suffering from being the last to know. "She's your lady?"

Leroy, having ignored him all morning, turned. "Yeah. What of it?"

Alex hurriedly shook his head. "Nothing. Nothing. You're right. She's somethin' else."

Leroy's attention once more turned to the tv, where Nicole was finishing her song. "I know."


Previous

Back to Fame Fanfiction